English

Noun

inrush ‎(plural inrushes)

1. A crowding or flooding in.
   • 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot Chapter IV

     As we swung around, the full force of the current caught us and drove the stern against the rocks; there was a thud which sent a tremor through the whole craft, and then a moment of nasty grinding as the steel hull scraped the rock wall. I expected momentarily the inrush of waters that would seal our doom; but presently from below came the welcome word that all was well.

   • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “chapter XIV”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:

     “Well, let's hope you're right, darling. In the meantime,” said Kipper, “if I don't get that whisky-and-soda soon, I shall disintegrate. Would you mind if I went in search of it, Mrs Travers?” “It's the very thing I was about to suggest myself. Dash along and drink your fill, my unhappy young stag at eve.” “I'm feeling rather like a restorative, too,” said Bobbie. “Me also,” I said, swept along on the tide of the popular movement. “Though I would advise,” I said, when we were outside, “making it port. More authority. We'll look in on Swordfish. He will provide.” We found Pop Glossop in his pantry polishing silver, and put in our order. He seemed a little surprised at the inrush of such a multitude, but on learning that our tongues were hanging out obliged with a bottle of the best [...]

Synonyms

• surge

Translations

Derived terms

• inrushing

Verb

inrush ‎(third-person singular simple present inrushes, present participle inrushing, simple past and past participle inrushed)

1. (obsolete) To rush in.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holland to this entry?)